OTTAWA — Jack Layton will receive a full state funeral Saturday at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall.

But before then, the public will get a chance to view his body on Parliament Hill on Wednesday and Thursday, as it lies in state in the foyer outside the House of Commons, interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel said Tuesday.

His body will lie in repose at Toronto City Hall Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Turmel thanked Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his government for extending the offer of a state funeral.

"They offered it to the family and they said yes, so we really appreciate the offer and that Mr. Harper did this," she said.

Turmel said as many members of the NDP caucus as possible will attend. "For sure, there will be a lot of pain. It will be difficult for everybody, but at the same time, we have to do it. And we will do it."

While on his annual tour of the Arctic in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, the prime minister shared some of his memories of Layton with reporters.

"You remember all the big things and all the little things. Some of the little things were the phone calls that we, or that Jack and I or that Jack and Laureen would exchange every Christmas just to wish each other a happy season, which we always did at the end of the session," he said.

Harper said he will have a lasting memory of the last time he chatted with Layton, following a marathon debate about back-to-work legislation for Canada Post workers last June.

"I could see at that point that he was a much sicker man than he had been before the election," Harper said. "That was very obvious to me. And of course, we were also right in the middle of a big parliamentary battle, as you know, and it was pretty emotional and we were at logger heads. But even at that moment with the big personal challenge he had in front of him, and with the big political battle we had going on between us, he was just still full of optimism and good will, and that's what I'll remember."

As Layton's body lies in state in Ottawa, the doors to Parliament's Centre Block will be open to the public on Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dignitaries and parliamentarians will be able to attend a viewing which starts at 11 a.m., before the public is let into Centre Block.

The public will also be able to view the body at Toronto City Hall on Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In a news release, the NDP invited the public to the visitation in the capital.

"Friends, colleagues, staff and all those who admired and loved Jack Layton will have an opportunity to pay their final respects to him in Ottawa," the release said.

The party said the funeral service will be "celebrating the life of Mr. Layton." Members of the public who cannot make the trip to Ottawa or Toronto can also leave their condolences at any New Democratic Party MP's constituency office.

The funeral decision was announced Monday night by Dimitri Soudas, Harper's director of communications.

"Prime Minister Harper has exercised his discretion and has offered Ms. Chow a state funeral for Jack Layton. She has accepted," Soudas said in the statement.

"Canadians will have an opportunity to salute Jack Layton's contribution to public life as well as offer their heartfelt condolences, their thoughts and prayers to Mr. Layton's family."

On Monday, hundreds gathered on Parliament Hill for a vigil to commemorate Layton. Throughout the day, visitors to Parliament Hill dropped off candles and flowers. Notes and flowers also were left outside the NDP leader's Toronto home.

The flag atop the Peace Tower in Ottawa and at federal buildings throughout the country have flown at half-mast since Monday. The flags won't be raised again until sunset Saturday evening, after Layton is laid to rest.

Traditionally, state funerals are offered to prime ministers, governors general and current members of cabinet. Unlike a usual state funeral, in which the deceased would lie in the Hall of Honour, Layton's body will lie in the foyer of the House of Commons.

The Heritage Department takes the lead in organizing state funerals, in accordance with the family's wishes.

The last state funeral was for Romeo LeBlanc in July 2009. LeBlanc was laid to rest in his hometown of Memramcook, N.B., 25 kilometres southeast of Moncton.

The first Canadian state funeral was held for Thomas D'Arcy McGee after he was assassinated in 1868. McGee was a cabinet minister in the first Parliament under Sir John A. Macdonald.

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